The team from Boitano Summer Day Camp, a licensed childcare program run by enthusiastic university students pursuing careers in education, recently reached out to ask if their group could visit our Operations Yard. We were thrilled to say yes!
Our young visitors were welcomed by Lead Mechanic Derek Smith, who gave them a fun and engaging behind-the-scenes tour of district operations. The children had the opportunity to climb aboard one of the District's brand-new buses, enjoy a short ride around the yard, and even try out the wheelchair lift. There were plenty of smiles, questions, and excitement along the way, including a few surprised squeals when they got a little splash from the wash bay during a bus-washing demonstration!
One of the highlights was watching as the mechanics demonstrated how an entire bus can be safely lifted off the ground for maintenance. The group then headed to the carpentry shop, where they learned about the tools and projects the department works on every day. We heard that many of the kids were especially interested in building something themselves, so this stop was a definite favourite.
The adventure continued with a visit to the Grounds Department, where the children got an up-close look at the large lawn tractors and skid-steer loader. To cap off a warm summer day, everyone enjoyed a well-deserved Freezy.
Experiences like this remind us how fortunate we are to have such caring and passionate staff who are always willing to share their knowledge and enthusiasm with young people in our community. A heartfelt thank you to Nicole, Tania, Les, Elaine, and of course our own big teddy bear, Derek, for helping create a memorable day filled with learning, laughter, and a little summer fun.
